Impact Strength of Acrylic Resin Denture Base Material

IMPACT STRENGTH OF ACRYLIC RESIN DENTURE BASE MATERIAL AFTER THE ADDITION OF DIFFERENT FIBRES
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AMJAD RAHAMNEH, BDS, MSc

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of addition of different types of fibres on the impact strength of acrylic resin denture base material. The addition of carbon, glass (strand) and polyethylene fibres produced a significant increase in the impact strength. Within the limitations of this study, the addition of silk fibres did not produce an improvement in impact strength. Key words:Impact strength, Denture base material, addition of fibres INTRODUCTION The most commonly used material for the construction of denture is poly (methyl methacrylate). However this material is still far from ideal and, because of its relatively low mechanical strength, fracture of denture is an unresolved problem. Over the years several attempts have been made to improve the mechanical properties of acrylic resin including the addition of various fibres.1-6 Fibres can vary in diameter, length and form. Fibre reinforcement is dependent on many variables including, fibre type, length, form, arrangement and the fibre matrix bond. The length of the fibre is of importance because the end of the fibres does not carry loads and as the fibre length increases the ineffective portion of the fibre has smaller effect. The orientation and distribution of the fibres is also of importance. For example, randomly oriented, discontinuous fibres have lower fracture strength than continuous fibres. For unidirectional continuous fibres, the fibres can be arranged parallel or perpendicular to the stress. The importance of the interface between fibres and matrix can not be over emphasized and it has been suggested that poorly bonded fibres to which little load is transferred can act as voids.7 Various suggestions have been made to improve the interface between the denture base material such as sandblasting8, silanisation9, the use of metal adhesive resins10, plasma treatment12 and other forms of pre-treatment or pre-impregnation of fibres.12 However failure at the interface between acrylic resin and the reinforcement material is a problem.
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Although the literature has reported the effects of different fibres on mechanical properties of acrylic resin, it is often difficult to compare results between studies because of differences in the test methods used. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the addition of different types of fibres on the transverse strength of acrylic resin denture base material. MATERIALS AND METHODS Minacryl Universal heat-cured cross linked acrylic denture base resin was used to produce the specimens. It was supplied in polymer/monomer-powder liquid form (Minerva Dental Ltd, Cardif, England). Poly (methyl methacrylate) fibres unidirectional 0.75mm in diameter, (Lite-tec, Lite-tec Ltd, Rochford, Essex, UK). Glass fibres were supplied by Stick Tech. They were supplied in both unidirectional and bidirectional form. The fibres are a semi manufactured product made from glass fibres in a highly porous polymer matrix. StickTM is made of unidirectional fibres and StickTM Net is made of a thin fiberglass fibric in bidirectional form, (Stick Tech, Turku, Finland). The polyethylene fibres were supplied on a continuous reel of woven fibre referred to as ultra high strength reinforcement ribbon, (Connect, SdsKerr, Peterborough UK). The silk fibres were supplied in a woven sheet form, (George Well, Bradford, UK). The carbon fibres were supplied as a continuous reel of multiple unidirectional fibres with a total width of 1.5-2.0 mm (Accord dental laboratories, (Accord Dental Laboratories, Chippenham, UK).

Dr Amjad MK AL-Rahamneh, Dental Department, Royal Medical Services, Princess Haya Hospital, P.O Box: 849, Aqaba, Jordan, E-mail: amjadrahamneh@hotmail.com 181

Pakistan Oral & Dental Journal Vol 29, No. 1, (June 2009)

Impact Strength of Acrylic Resin Denture Base Material

Polyethylene fibre

Carbon fibre

Glass strand fibre The impact test was carried out using a Zwic material pendulum impact testing machine type (Model 5102, Germany) with a pendulum of testing capacity of 0.5 J. The test was undertaken at room temperature of 23C. The specimens were stored in water at 37C for 50 hours. Each notched specimen was simply placed on supports and raised pendulum was released to fracture it. Ten specimens of each group were tested. The pendulum struck each specimen at a single mid-point directly opposite the notch. The fracture occurred at the notch which is the weakest part of the specimen. The energy lost by the pendulum during the fracture was determined by a comparison of the length of its swing after the impact with its free swing when no impact occurred. RESULTS The results of the impact test for specimens are presented in Table 1. The results were subjected to a one way analysis of variance. Multiple range test are presented in Table 2.
Pakistan Oral & Dental Journal Vol 29, No. 1, (June 2009)

Glass woven fibre Table 1: The effect of the addition of different fibres on the impact fracture energies (KJ/m2) of heat cured poly (methyl methacrylate) acrylic resin. Zewick notched Cbarpy test. Specimens tested in air at room temperature 23 2C. Material Impact Mean KJ/m2 1.61 1.38 13.28 1.57 17.35 19.92 1.48 +Standard Deviation 0.44 0.27 4.08 0.14 5.56 5.13 0.34

Control (C) C + PMMA fibres C + Carbon fibres C + glass fibre (woven) C + glass fibres (strand) C + polyethylene fibres C + silk fibres

For the impact test the highest value was recorded for specimens with polyethylene fibres, glass strand fibres followed by carbon firres, woven glass fibres, silk fibres and the lowest for poly (methyl methacrylate) fibres. A one way analysis of variance demonstrated 182

Impact Strength of Acrylic Resin Denture Base Material

TABLE 2: MULTIPLE RANGE TEST OF THE GROUPS Material(n=10) C + PMMA fibres C +silk fibres C + glass fibres (woven) Control (C) C + carbon fibres C + glass fibres (strand) C + polyethylene fibres Mean 1.38 1.48 1.57 1.61 13.20 17.35 19.92 Homogenous groups A A A A B C C

1.68KJ/m2 and the specimen containing polyethylene 19.92KJ/m2 glass strand (17.35KJ/m2) and carbon fibres. There was no significant difference between the specimens containing carbon fibres 13.20 kj/m2 and the specimens containing glass strand fibres. There was a significant difference between the specimens containing polyethylene fibres and the specimens containing carbon and glass strand fibres. The polyethylene fibres used in this study are reported to be patently weaved for more complete resin wetting of the fibres. This superior wetting results in improved strength and toughness. This is a possible explanation of the high values for impact strength reported in this study. The specimens containing glass strand fibres showed an increase in impact resistance it is possibly attributed to the fact that fibres are prepolymerized and contain a highly porous polymer that provides a chemical bonding to the denture base resin. The other groups that showed no increase in impact resistance compared with the control group this might be attributed to problems at interface between the fibres and the acrylic resin matrix. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of this study the addition of the experimental untreated silk fibres did not produce an improvement in the impact strength of acrylic resin and can not be recommended as a method of reinforcement. Polyethylene fibres and glass strand fibres have produced exciting results. They have produced a significant improvement in term of strength. REFERENCES
1 2 3 Vallittu, P.K A review of fibre reinforced denture base resins. J. Prosthodont., 1996; 5: 270-276. Jagger, D.C, Harrison, A and Jandt, K. The reinforcement of dentures. A Review. Int. J. Prosthont., 1999; 26:185-194. Uzun, G., Hersek, N. and Tincer, T. Effect of five woven fibre reinforcements on the impact and transverse strength of denture base resin. J. Prosthet. Dent, 1999; 81:616-620. Braden, M., Davy, K.W.M., Parker, S., Ladizesky, N.H. and Ward, I.M. Denture base poly (methyl methacrylate) reinforced with ultra-high modulus polyethylene fibres. Br. Dent. J., 1988; 164:109-113. Jagger, D.C and Harrison, A .The effect of chopped poly (methyl methacrylate) fibres on some properties of acrylic resin denture base material. Int. J. Prosthodant., 1999; 12: 542-546. International Standard Organization ISO 1567:1999. Specifications for denture base polymers. Geneva Switzerland. British Standard Specification for Denture Base Polymers. BS 2487: 2000. British Standards Institution, London, UK.

that there was a significant difference between the groups p<0.05 The table applies a multiple comparisons between materials as indicated by Fishers least significant differences (LSD) indicating materials that are falling in three homogenous groups A, B and C. DISCUSSION The present study investigates the effect of addition of different fibres in continuous and woven form on the impact strength of heatcured acrylic resin denture base material. The fracture of acrylic resin dentures as a result of being dropped is a common occurrence and research continues to dates to produce a denture base material with improved impact resistance. In this study for most of the impact test, the specimens broke with a sharp fracture, exhibiting typical brittle fracture behavior that is characterized by lack of distortion of the broken parts. The exceptions were some of the specimens containing polyethylene and glass strand fibres where the fibres held the fragments together after the breakage of the specimens. Analysis of the results using a one way analysis of variance showed a significant difference between the groups (p<0.05). The specimens containing polyethylene fibres possessed the highest impact resistance value followed by specimen containing glass strand fibres and carbon fibres. Between the lowest value and the highest value the difference was (18.5 KJ/m2). There was a highly significant difference between the control specimens (1.61kj/m2), specimens containing silk 1.48 KJ/m2, acrylic resin, and woven glass fibres
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